Port Vale look like having a busy deadline day as manager Michael Brown bids to strengthen his team in all areas.

Club chief executive Colin Garlick admitted they were having difficulties in tying some deals down, but he remains confident of doing business before tonight’s 11 o’clock deadline.

He said: “We’ve got plenty of irons in the fire, and we are looking to strengthen in all areas – from defence to midfield and up front. We are confident of bringing players in, and are all working hard towards that end.”

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Vale had a difficult January window when a couple of key assets in goalkeeper Jak Alnwick and midfielder Anthony Grant moved on and the club struggled to replace them at late notice.

The club have had no inquiries for any members of their squad so far this window, including young defender Nathan Smith.

Port Vale defender Nathan Smith

Garlick added: “As we found in January, it is sometimes difficult to get some deals done because you are having to talk to so many different people about particular players, but we will be okay.”

And as for Smith, who impressed when skippering the Vale team who claimed a penalty shoot-out victory at Oldham in the Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday night, it looks like fans can breathe easy again… at least until January.

Garlick said: “We’ve had no formal inquiries for Nathan or any other members of our squad, to be honest.

“I suppose that is a bit surprising in Nathan’s case, but we are happy it remains that way. He’s a local lad who is happy in what he is doing and he still has plenty to learn here.”

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Vale are next in action on Saturday when they welcome top-seven outfit Notts County to Burslem hoping to end a run of three successive League Two defeats since their opening-day victory at Crawley Town.

To that end, Vale boss Brown is hoping that striker Tyrone Barnett and goalkeeper Rob Lainton could figure in his plans after returning from injury.

He said of Lainton: “Having him back would be like a new signing. We will assess him on Thursday and Friday. That will give us food for thought.”

But he has been left sweating over the availability if frontman Rekeil Pyke, who is being assessed after tweaking a hamstring during the first half of the game at Oldham. Michael Tonge will also be absent as he serves his ban for being sent off in the defeat to Crewe last weekend.